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Original USD coming to L.A.

18 visible archived posts · 18 preserved total · topic ID 3949

John Cox 17 Feb 2011

I just about lost it when Joan Lawton announced this at The Castle last night.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2011/02 ... to-be.html

Mark Lyons 17 Feb 2011

I am interested in attending.
Would anyone from the area like to set up a date where we could all go together?
Even those outside of the LA area would be welcome if they wish to travel there.
The admission is $10 and free on Thursdays.
More info:

http://www.skirball.org/index.php?optio ... ail&oid=56

I hope they will have lots of cuffs to look at, especially some Darcies!

mark
O--O

John Cox 17 Feb 2011

I live not far from the Skirball. I'll be there every Thursday. :p

I know some of the big Houdini guys are coming out for the opening. Hoping to corral everyone into a Friday lunch at The Castle. Maybe we can eat in the Houdini Room.

Kevin Connolly 17 Feb 2011

It it's the same one that is on exhibit in NYC, it's a replica.

houdinisghost 18 Feb 2011

When John was restoring the Water Torture Cell after the Niagara fire, he called me and asked if I knew if there were two Water Torture Cells. I told him there were two with interchangeable parts.
Hardeen sold the working cell to Sid Radner. Apparently, the other cell had been cannibalized for parts.
Later, Hardeen called Sid and asked him what spare parts he had. Hardeen was trying, but was never able, to rebuild the second cell.
Gaughan made two identical cells. One included several parts of the original. That was for Sid Radner and is the one now owned by Copperfield. The story I got was that in the second cell John built (and has had since) there was one original part.
To see this Water Torture Cell is to see the restored original. I photographed them both and I can't tell one from the other.
http://www.houdinisghost.com/

John Cox 18 Feb 2011

I screwed up. It is not the (Copperfield owned) original, it is the replica John built. Sorry.

houdinisghost 18 Feb 2011

Not a replica--a working twin.

nuts 18 Feb 2011

a fake is a fake. a replica is a replica unless you are some kind of a Houdini guru so called authority. then it seems to be real.

MICHAEL LEE 18 Feb 2011

I have see the John Gaughan recreation of the WTC up close , an Amazing piece of work.

ML

Ian McColl 18 Feb 2011

#10

The original cell had cast brass hasps which locked the stocks at the top. These were one piece. The later copy (replica) had a brass hinge silver soldered to the brass strap. You don't need to be an expert, just undertstand construction. I stood 1 foot away from one (WTC).

Anonymous 25 Mar 2011

#11

Is anyone planning on attending?

Anonymous 25 Mar 2011

#12

Yes

Anonymous 25 Mar 2011

#13

Wouldn't be the same without you!

Mark lyons 25 Apr 2011

#14

Water Torture Cell to be displayed at Skirball Center in Los Angeles
UPDATE: I just spoke to John Gaughan and this is NOT the original restored cell. This is a working replica he created from the original. Sorry about that. But this will still be cool to see as it is said to be identical to the real cell.

Breaking news! Joan Lawton announced last night at The Magic Castle that the original-restored Houdini Water Torture Cell will be displayed at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles when the Houdini Art and Magic exhibition arrives there on April 28, 2011.

The cell is being supplied by John Gaughan who performed the restoration on the historic prop after it was destroyed by fire in 1995. The original cell will ONLY be displayed at this L.A. stop.

The Skirball Center will also feature a retrospective of Jewish magicians called Masters of Illusion: Jewish Magicians of the Golden Age, featuring items from the collections of Mike Caveney and others. Dozens of photos, posters, and an original copy of The Discoverie of Witchcraft will be part of that display.

Houdini Art and Magic is currently on show at The Jewish Museum in New York. It will open at the Skirball Center on April 28 and run through September 4, 2011, before moving on to San Francisco and Wisconsin.

Mark Lyons 25 Apr 2011

#15

The opening is this week.

I know Cliff sent out an email asking about a goup tour.
Will anybody be showing any interest in attending?
I am good with Fri, Sat or Sunday.
I was at White Castle last week and would like to go to Magic Castle this week.

mark
O--O

John Cox 26 Apr 2011

#16

Yep, not the original, but damn close! (Is there a way to change the topic title?)

I'll be going to special preview tomorrow night. Excited!

Mark Lyons 30 Apr 2011

#17

I have not heard anything.
Did anyone go to the opening day festivities?
Who was there, what was going on, can we see some picture?

Is anyone planning on going soon?
I am still interested in going soon even though there is plenty of time as the display will be there all summer.

mark
O--O

John Cox 30 Apr 2011

#18

I went to the previews. It's sensational! Haven't had time to write up too much about it.

http://www.wildabouthoudini.com/2011/04 ... ew-at.html